Project PALS (Panhandle Autism Library Services), a collaborative project between College of Communication and Information faculty Dr. Nancy Everhart and Dr. Juliann Woods, was featured last week in the Orlando Sentinel. Everhart was interviewed for an article about specialized library programs for children with autism was published January 27th and highlighted the importance of the library as a community social and learning opportunity.
The article centered around Derek Alexander, a 9-year-old with autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and a non cancerous brain tumor that hinders his control over his actions and speech. Every other week, the East Lake County Library in Sorrento, Fla. welcomes Derek and other children with autism and related medical conditions to be free of “social boundaries” during a programmed specifically designed for them.
Funded by a federal grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, a team of faculty, doctoral students, and the Florida Center for Interactive Media has created an online interactive four-session training tool that will guide librarians and staff to better serve patrons on the autism spectrum. The four training modules provide strategies in autism awareness, communication, arranging the library environment, social skills and using technology.
With one in 68 children in the U.S. affected by autism there is an increasing need for this type of community opportunity, according to Woods. Read the full article here.